Episode 4
"Just a few more old man." Grey hooped a brick towards Roger. It spun quickly in a low arch.
"Hrrrmph!" Roger punched it just as it came into range, breaking it to pieces. He snorted and knocked his fists together.
"Oh, ok. Well in that case….last stretch! Double time!" Grey began tossing them at Roger with both hands in succession. One after the other as fast as he could.
"Grumph! Hurf! Bruf!" Roger bounced on the balls of his feet, throwing punches rapidly. The darkness engulfing the vacant construction site was penetrated only by a high streetlamp. The dull, red bricks spun half in shadow. Despite this, he retained his focus, finishing the last one with a kick.
"Skreeeee!" Roger pumped his fists in the air above his head. His grey hair was stained red with brick powder.
"Not bad" Grey said. He rubbed his own arms, working the stiffness out of them. "However" he said, "you missed one!" He pointed to the ground near Roger's feet.
"GRUFFF?!" Roger looked down, anxiously scanning the area for any solid brick remaining.
BONK!
A brick landed on Roger's head just as he was beginning to look back up.
"HURRRUUUUU!" Roger jumped. He thrashed about violently, throwing mad punches at the air and ground. His arms were a torrent of anger so wild he struck himself on the head a few times.
Grey laughed until he doubled over and had to sit.
Roger saw him. He picked up a chunk of broken brick and hurled it at Grey, hitting him in the right shoulder.
"Hey!" Grey stood up.
"Grumph!" Roger stamped the ground hard, crossed his arms and turned around.
"Come on, it was a joke!"
"Hrrruph"
"We both know you're too hard headed for that to have hurt."
"Bruff!"
"Well it couldnt'a made you any uglier."
Roger charged. He made contact with Grey's torso. Grey squatted low, grabbed under Roger's arms and dug his legs deep into the ground. It wasn't enough. Roger had his legs. He pushed off of the ground and picked Grey up, they fell with Roger on top. Grey grabbed Roger's left arm and hooked a leg around his back, attempting a kimura lock. Roger was too quick and too strong. He rolled Grey off of him and caught him from behind in a rear naked choke.
"Alright! Alright!" Grey coughed out. He tapped Roger's hand quickly. Roger released him and stood proudly with his fists on his sides.
Grey coughed and lit a cigarette.
"You all warmed up now furball?" He asked. He coughed a few more times. "Near pulled my head off."
"Skreeee!" Roger squealed. He assumed a fighting pose and punched the air a few times to the right and left.
"Good, then let's head out."
They walked a few miles in the street a block or two parallel from Main Street. The lights were dim but enough to see the sidewalk and road at least somewhat until the next light. They reached the outer northern part of town. The roads stopped and now the ground was once again dirt and dust. Up ahead, the outline of tall grass and shrubbery could be seen. Here, without street lamps, the land was dark but illuminated nonetheless by the moon.
"She said there's an old train track that ran this way." Grey said, looking out over the field. They began walking forward in the darkness. Reaching where the tall grass began, Grey could make out only about the top half of Roger's body. A rattata shot by under Grey's foot, causing him to stumble. It scurried away shaking the grass as it fled.
"Stupid rat" Grey said. "Too many of 'em."
They kept on until finding a rise in the earth composed of old gravel. Rusted tracks lay on top. They followed it north.
The bridge stood over a deep concrete ravine overrun with the same thick grass and underbrush. At the bottom, beside the columns holding up the overpass Grey say a small flash of light. He nodded to Roger who scrambled off towards the bridge. Grey descended the steep ravine side. Reaching the bottom, he made his way towards the gleam.
Underneath the shadow of the bridge was Jade, leaning on a column.
"Bring my money?" She righted herself and paced a few steps towards him. Beside her was a thick, brown backpack. Grey kept his on his back.
Grey lit a cigarette and looked at her a moment.
"How do you know I'm not just here to rob you?" he asked.
She smirked. "Bigger men than you have tried."
"Don't doubt that." He exhaled a puff of smoke.
They sized each other up. A wind blew through the tall grass between them.
"Ladies first." He finally said.
"Like you're the first to use that excuse" She scoffed "but, OK"
She flung a pokeball fast out of her right hand. A short, bright light flashed and the ball returned to her. Whatever she released was hidden in the grass, obscuring Grey's view of it.
That's why she chose this place. Grey thought.
"Well?" she asked, crossing her arms. "We gonna do this or just pay me?"
Grey put his hands in his pockets. "Way ahead of ya. Roger!"
A loud squeal was heard over head. Roger leaped from the bridge and slid down a far column. He jumped off of the base and landed in front of Grey.
"Skreeee!" he called and pounded himself across the chest.
"Ready?" Grey asked him. "Go!"
Roger charged forward. A quick movement in the grass to his left caught his eye and he ducked, narrowly avoiding a hit to the face. He stopped and watched the shape speed away.
"Easy now, old man" Grey said, "we've got all night."
Roger breathed deeply and shook his head a bit.
"That's it" Grey assured him.
The night sounds echoed across the ravine. Wind rustling the grass, insect chirps, far off city sounds. Roger turned in the grass, looking for signs of movement. He sniffed the air.
A burst of movement behind him caught his ears. He sidestepped but was too slow. The phantom caught him along the left shoulder leaving a small gash.
"GRUUUMPH!" Roger snorted
"You've been hurt worse." Grey said. "She's countin' on you to get impatient."
Jade stood with her arms crossed, smirking across at Grey.
The girl's smart. He thought.
Roger paced around in a circle. Checking for movement.
"Calm down. Use your head." Grey said.
Roger heard a fluttering sound, then the quick displacement of grass. He jumped straight up. The enemy flew under him slashing at his feet as it continued forward into the weeds. He landed as it stopped and turned around slowly so as to not make noise.
Roger barreled at the pokemon. It fled as he came upon it but he followed quickly. They careened through the grass, weaving a fast, serpentine path. The enemy swung around to slash at Roger. He squealed and tackled it, catching it's torso before the strike could make contact with him. They tumbled and Roger threw the rival into a clearing in front of the ravine wall. The phantom righted itself and landed on it's feet. In the moonlight, Grey could make out its form. Standing about four feet tall, it resembled a cross between a dinosaur and a praying mantis. It's green, reptilian frame was segmented about and on it's back were a pair of insect-like wings. It stood erect on two powerful legs. However, it's most defining traits were its forearms which resembled large, curved blades. They had a milky, opaque shine and the tip of one was dulled with the blood of Roger's shoulder. It hissed in a serpent tongue and flexed it's wings with an air of taunt. Roger bounced on the balls of his feet and blew hot air out of his wide nostrils in anxious energy.
The Scyther charged at him. It's wings propelling it forward at a surprising speed. It stabbed the air viciously as he rolled out of the way. Roger came up on his feet in an impressive show of agility. The Scyther, now with no reason to be subtle, rammed it's right blade-arm into the ground and quickly slung around without slowing. It made a second run at Roger, it's blades poised high and ready to strike. Roger waited. He crouched low to the ground. The Scyther was upon him, he sprang, and wrapped his arms around it's waist. The enemy's speed pushed him back. He dug his feet into the ground and fought against the force of it's wings. The Scyther slashed wildly over Roger's head, shredding large puffs of hair from his back. The left arm found flesh and scratched him deep. Roger felt it's wings beginning to tire. They slowed and he found he was holding his enemy up. He shifted his left leg up under him and pushed off the ground, turning his weight onto his foe. He slammed it hard on the ground and quickly assumed a dominate position. His knees held the blade arms in place while his own hands hammered punches down on the Scyther's face. It's head bounced against the ground, Grey saw it faint.
"Enough!" Jade shouted. A beam of light emerged from the pokeball she held. It shot out and touched her Scyther. The pokemon glowed the same bright red and returned to the ball in a gleam of light. Roger punched the empty earth that was left under him. He stood up, panting. His hair was matted in sweat and blood. He assumed a fighting position.
Grey lit another cigarette.
"Not bad" Jade said. She tapped the center of the pokeball. It shrunk to a fraction of its size, she clipped it back on to her belt. She grabbed another one beside it and tapped its center button. It grew to fill her hand. She hooped it into the clearing in front of Roger. Light exploded from the ball, it bounced back towards her. A loud roar pierced the night. The light faded and before them was a large bear. It stood on it's hind legs and bellowed another roar. On it's stomach and chest was a wide yellow circle. It stood nearly six feet. The Ursaring leaned forward and roared a third time. It fell on all fours and clawed the ground. It's top lip curled in a menacing snarl, revealing its teeth. Jade smiled.
"Roger, pull back!" Grey shouted. He reached to the side of his belt and removed a pokeball. Roger jumped back and ran to his side. "Take a break."
Grey released the pokeball. Out of it came the same familiar light. A short, squatty pokemon appeared. It stood on all fours, a large horn protruded from it's head. It's rough skin was a light shade of purple with dark blots decorating it's sides. Two large, pointy ears perked in the wind. It took notice of the Ursaring, the barbs on it's back bristled up. The Nidorino shook it's head and stamped the ground.
"Caesar, you know what to do." Grey said. He took a drag, exhaled, and bit the inside of his mouth.
The Nidorino was quick. It ran straight at the Ursaring though immensely dwarfed in size. The bear growled and swiped at it, swinging thick clawed paws with shuddering strength. One caught Caesar on the side and sent him tumbling. He got up, bleeding, but too proud to flinch.
"Calm down" Grey called, "look for an opening."
Caesar again faced the bear. They circled one another. Caesar managed to avoid the initial powerful jabs, bobbing and weaving nimbly. However, his injury caused his abdomen to lock-up and he tripped, narrowly avoiding an attack. He turned tail and ran toward the tall grass. The Ursaring followed him, fast for it's size. Caesar made it to the brush first and vanished into the dark foliage. The bear reached the grass. It bounded in, stopped, and began to sniff the ground.
"Remy be careful, there's a reason he had that thing face you!" Jade called.
Don't wise up now! Grey thought.
Caesar exploded from the grass, driving his horn deep into Remy's underside. Remy roared and viciously swatted him away, slashing Caesar's same injured side. Caesar soared across the grass and landed hard on the ground in the clearing, rolling fast as he hit.
Grey recalled Caesar back into his ball.
"Go Roger."
Roger ran at Remy. The Ursaring, wild with pain, stood on its hind legs and slashed at him. Roger dodged the attack with quick foot work and struck some hard punches into Remy's stomach. He ducked and got behind the bear, landing a solid kick to its right kidney. Remy howled and fell to all-fours. He turned and charged Roger. Roger jumped back but Remy did not stop. He overcame Roger, tackling him to the ground. Roger, now laid on his back, landed a punch to Remy's jaw. The bear drug a claw down Roger's side, attempting to keep him pinned below him. Roger hooked the arm and locked it to his side with both his arms. He kicked his legs into Remy's chest and pushed as hard as he could in a desperate attempt to keep the bear's jaws away. Remy leaned his weight onto Roger's legs. He swiped with his free arm at his face, coming short just an inch or so. Roger's legs shook under the strain. Sweat stung his eyes and the wounds on his back and side burned. He wondered if enough time had passed yet. Regardless, the bear made the decision for him. Remy, realizing he couldn't reach his face, caught Roger's right knee with his free claw. Roger let go of Remy's trapped arm causing the bear's balance to shift for a second. Roger utilized the change. He tucked his legs and rolled to the side, quickly scrambling away from Remy.
Remy roared at Roger. He paced towards him, stood on his back legs. Roared once more. He dropped back to all-fours and that was when they saw it. Remy came down harder than expected. His front paws crashed to the ground and his head whipped down, smacking his nose on the earth. He garbled a low, lazy growl and shook his head. His arms shook as he tried to step forward. The right arm slid out from under him and he rolled over to his side. He panted heavily, another muffled growl escaped his teeth. He slowly dragged himself onto his feet. Sweat poured off of his low hanging face. A sickly, low, gurgling burp rumbled from his mouth. He heaved and vomited.
"Remy!" Jade called.
The bear shook his head slowly, he coughed and remained still a moment. Finally he slowly, on quaking muscles, lay down. Jade recalled him to his ball. She held it for a moment then pushed the center button and returned it to her belt.
"I didn't realize that little one was poisonous." She said calmly.
Grey coughed, cleared his throat, and spit.
She sighed. "Alright."
She walked over to her backpack and squatted beside it. She unzipped a small pocket on the side and took something out. Grey dropped his cigarette butt on the ground and stubbed it out with his shoe. He walked to meet her in the middle.
"Feel ok champ?" He rustled the hair on Roger's head as he passed.
"Grumph." Roger plopped down, his tired legs spread in front of him. He slouched forward and rest his big hands on the ground, his shoulders drooping.
"Here." Jade met Grey. She handed him a folded wad of bills and the pokeball from her pack. "Buy some class and catch a cold."
Grey quickly counted the money and shoved it into his jacket's inside pocket. The pokeball he placed in the last slot on his belt. Jade was already putting on her backpack. She walked behind the column nearest her and produced a bicycle from the shadows. She wheeled it back over to Grey.
"I'll be looking for a rematch." She said, mounting the bike.
Grey stood with his hands in his pockets. "Sure" he said, staring at her.
She turned to leave and stopped. Looking back at Grey, she noticed he had not moved.
"You don't trust me do you?" She asked.
"Don't trust nobody." He kept his eyes on her. She grinned back.
"What could I do with both my pokemon out of commission?"
Grey crossed his arms.
"We both know that aint everything you got."
She smiled, her eyes flashed.
"Well, you'll have to find out won't you?"
She pedaled off, back towards Pewter City.
Grey watched her disappear into the darkness. He sat down beside Roger and took off his backpack.
"You did good bud." He lightly rubbed Roger's head.
"Groooo" Roger sighed.
Grey reached a hand in the pack and pulled out a roll of bandages. He grabbed a pokeball off his belt and held it in his other hand.
"Bandages or ball?" he asked.
Roger pondered a moment then nodded at the bandages, "Hurmm."
"Ok."
Grey sanitized and wrapped Roger's shoulder. He investigated and found the cuts on his side and back weren't as deep as he thought.
"This hair of yours saved you again." He said.
"Hurooooo" Roger whined.
"Yea, that was too close for comfort. I was fresh out of pokeballs."